Meanwhile, the companion in some ways of the other review I just wrote, of the Palace of the Stock…read moreExchange in Portugal, this tour is definitely of a gaudy palace built by royalty with a whole *lot* of stolen gold and jewels, so I was glad to learn that it isn't *still* owned by the royal family, it's owned by the state and mostly used for state functions, other than its purpose as far as tourists are concerned, being a museum of a fraction of the riches Spain owns (and not a coincidence, presumably, that they also built a museum of *more* of the riches owned by Spain, on display right next door, for a combined, reduced price.) The self-guided tour is worth it if you like seeing a bunch of super ornate architecture, furniture, artwork, etc. We got snippets of the actual tour as we passed each other at various points - I was happier being able to walk through the route at our own pace, which took about an hour. I felt sorry for the people whose tickets were for any time the following day, though, as it was randomly closed all day the next day we were in Madrid a few months ago, which I gather isn't an altogether rare thing to happen, that they take reservations and then close last minute. We got in in the nick of time, it seemed. By the way, if you have bags, you do have to leave your bags downstairs in a locker at a small additional fee. It was small enough I do remember exactly how much it even was, though, so it clearly wasn't a big deal.

What a massive place and sooo maybe cool art displays…read more We bought our tickets same day and there was no wait time.

Madrid is truly a treasure trove of architectural riches, but unlike Paris or London, I didn't…read morethink Madrid had a single defining landmark that came to mind. This mammoth building might be it. Jamie W and I just happened to be walking on the Gran Via when we were gobsmacked by the architectural grandeur of this dual purpose building (Photo 9). It's not only Madrid's City Hall but also CentroCentro, a thriving public cultural center. Designed by Antonio Palacios and open since 1919, the building has soaring ceilings with neo-Gothic towers that make it look like it started life as a cathedral. It didn't and was actually the main post office for years. The main draw here is the rooftop terrace which offers a panoramic view of central Madrid, in particular, the bustling Plaza de Cibeles below (Video). Admission is 4€, and a timeslot reservation is required to use their glass elevator. It's easier just to take the curving stairs from the top. En route, you can stop at Cornamusa Cibeles for a moderately priced set-menu lunch. We did and thought it was decent enough (review: https://yelp.to/wlIeOvQ_vQ). There's also a glass-vaulted gallery that hosts contemporary art exhibitions. On the ground floor is a cafe where you can have a light lunch or just a cup of coffee (Photo 8). We opted for the latter. It was hodgepodge but somehow it worked. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/wzXOFbYL73

I have visited Madrid several times and did not realize that you can a) go into the Palacio de…read moreCibeles and b) that it is free. My bf made this discovery when he was exploring while I was at work. Great discovery! After entering through a security/bag check, you walk upstairs onto the 2nd floor. There is a tourist office as well as a large relaxing/working space. An exhibit offers an overview of the commitment to green spaces in English and Spanish. The floors above house the history of the building, including the architecture and design. There are also special exhibits featuring different artists. If you are visiting before early May 2026, I highly recommend Ana Juan's "Wunderkammer" exhibition. Beautiful and thought provoking! There is an observation deck that can be accessed for €4. It was closed in mid-Feb for technical repairs without a confirmed reopening date. Hopefully it will be available to the public again soon! A bit farther away but you can always venture to the top of the Riu hotel for incredible views.

There's not one but two gravitational centers In Madrid. One is the chaotic, cacophonous La Puerta…read moredel Sol which holds Kilometre Zero where all of Spain's national radial roads begin (review: https://yelp.to/EihvRcE8Bu). Just a five-minute walk away is the other comparatively serene center, a grand rectangular square which impresses with its architectural symmetry and 400-year-old history. Three-story buildings with red facades and private balconies uniformly enclose the pedestrian-only square with nine stone archways providing the only entry points. There are cafes and shops that line the square, and apparently the calamari sandwiches are the get item if you're hungry. More likely, you'll do a 360-degree pirouette to capture your Instagram moment like we did (Video). RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/BV9rN8MazO

This is a beautiful and historical place with so many restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops around…read moreit; a must-visit in Madrid. The square has a classic historic vibe, with its red buildings, arches, and open space right in the middle of the city. You can take your time, walk through, take photos and just enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. It's close to Puerta del Sol and San Ginés, so it's easy to add to a walk around central Madrid.

Didn't even know this place existed. A friend and I were traveling in Madrid and it was Sunday…read morewhich was a perfect time to visit this area because of 'Las Ramblas'. We sort of got lost and took a different way back... I was glad we did because we ran into this gem. We just sat on a makeshift chair and looked around at people playing soccer, building, studying, planting or just lounging. Its unlike any park I have ever seen. It doesn't feel like a public part as as much of a community project. Its is out of this world and just strait cool. Spent an hour just lounging and eating breakfast while a few people jammed on acoustic guitar.

This place took me completely by surprise. A construction site that has been turned from an ignored…read morederelict site into a community space, this is a great example of how people have responded to the recession. There is a cafe, a stage for concerts, a basketball/football court and regular film screenings. All provided by people who saw a failed property development and decided to use it for something better. An excellent example of community spirit.

Here's something you don't see every day - it's a vertical garden. Not flat like the botanical…read moregardens nearby. This garden is a dramatic four-story (78 feet!) tall green wall near the CaixaForum building. Facing south, the garden gets near constant sunlight as it moves across the sky. And yes, it sure gets hot in Madrid. But you'll find yourself much cooler with a visit to the garden. Worth admiring the 250 different species of plants that survive and thrive without soil. It is an ever-changing, living piece of art. [Review 12542 overall, 2332 of 2019.]

The beauty inside this magnificent house of worship is nearly as stunning as some of the world's…read moregreatest cathedrals, places we've seen like Vatican City's St. Peter's and Moscow's St. Basil's. With the third largest dome of any active church in Europe, measuring 108 feet (33 m) across, and incredibly well-preserved priceless works of art on the walls and ceiling, this destination cannot be missed while in Madrid!

As a tourist site, skip it. It's not in great condition and looks an awful lot like every other…read morecathedral you're gonna see in Europe. It costs three euro to get in. That includes a guided "tour" in Spanish only, which is just a guy moving from nave to nave talking out loud. Non-Spanish speakers shouldn't worry they're missing out, the tour is surprisingly boring even for a church tour. Any time spent here would be better spent up the road at the Catedral de la Almudena, which is both free and far more interesting.

The view here is amazing. We had awesome food and drinks but being able to really take in the city…read morewas one of the best parts! Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Gambas French toast Cocktail

Though I'm not a native Spaniard, I studied abroad here and visited too- this is one of the best…read morerooftop views in the city! Unless you make a dinner reservation (only way to get food too), tickets are 5 euro to enter the bar and you might wait around 10 min in line to enter. While cocktails are expensive by European standards at 10 euro, tinto de verano (a classic) isn't terrible at 5 euro. Even without drinks, definitely worth it just for the view! Sunsets are amazing. On a chilly evening, they have heaters over some of the lounge chairs. I'd highly recommend to get a great view of the city!

This is a landmark in central Madrid. It is an actual Egyptian temple that was moved to Spain when…read moreflooding from building the Aswan Dam was going to destroy many archaeological sites. It is surrounded by a beautiful park, easily accessible by public transportation.

Sunset at Temple De Bod is a daily celebration of life. As the sun's last rays cast down on the…read morecity, throngs of people do a pilgrimage to view the splendor.

puerta de toledo translates into "the gate of toledo." centuries ago, it used to lead travelers to…read morethe historical city of toledo, a city 70km southwest of madrid. completed in 1827, it is one of the many monumental gates in the city of madrid, and also the one that was most recently built. imagine how old some of the other gates in madrid are if this one is 188 years old! this gate features three arches and looks magnificent at nighttime as you can see the lights shining on either side of this light-coloured, granite structure. i passed by this structure many times during my stay in madrid since i stayed in the la latina district, just a few minutes away on foot. whether by day or by night, this tall gate helped me determine where i was and how to continue on my journey while touring madrid.